Mama Geek Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I have heard dh talk about them, but I had never seen them and he didn't know what they were when we saw them. I just looked them up on line and it turns out they are sand fleas. We saw tons of them and it was pretty neat! http://fishingdestinguide.com/baitSANDFLEAS.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 We used to see those ALL THE TIME when we lived in San Diego when I was a kid. I learned how to find them right after the surf came in, and dig for them in the sand. I would bring glass jars and watch them in there. Good memories. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Oh, wow! I don't think I've ever seen them. They're actually kind of cute :) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Rose Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 They're really not cute when they're jumping all over you and into any food or beverage you have. :rofl: My parents had waterfront property when I was growing up (they've since built a house on it) and we used to camp there. Sand fleas were yucky. No one liked them. The comments are cracking me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 They're really not cute when they're jumping all over you and into any food or beverage you have. :rofl: My parents had waterfront property when I was growing up (they've since built a house on it) and we used to camp there. Sand fleas were yucky. No one liked them. The comments are cracking me up. LOL! I never saw them jumping or flying or anything of the sort. They would always try to dig in the sand as fast as they could, and always just where the surf came in. They were never where the sand was dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Ewwww. I don't think they are cute at all. Interesting, maybe. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 My kids love digging for them at the beach. I've never sen them jump before. Not sure if it possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Rose Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 My kids love digging for them at the beach. I've never sen them jump before. Not sure if it possible The sand fleas in WA are definitely jumpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJ. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Interesting. In my experience sand fleas are ferocious insects from hell. Like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Yeah, I'm thinking we're talking about different sand fleas. I've seen little fleas at our beaches here on the Great Lakes. Those are irritating, jumpy, biting little fleas like the ones on dogs and cats, but smaller. The photo Mama Geek linked doesn't look like it could jump. And I think it's cute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 No, the sand fleas as I know of them are bigger. My mom always tells a story of sand fleas biting her, but I'm assuming she's talking about the smaller kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share Posted August 31, 2013 These didn't bite and they weren't insects. We thought they were kind of cute too. They were more along the lines of a shellfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 These didn't bite and they weren't insects. We thought they were kind of cute too. They were more along the lines of a shellfish. This is the kind I was mentioning also. They didn't jump, bite, fly, or anything of the sort. They just dug in the sand, almost like little crabs or something. :) They could swim really well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I loved digging those up at the beach when I was a kid! They tickle your hands. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroe1 Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 We live on the beach and find sand fleas quite the nuisance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 They are "Sand Crabs," not "Sand Fleas." They don't jump, fly, or bite. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 according to the doctor, my son got bit by sand fleas...his legs were COVERED with little (VERY itchy) bites...he could barely walk becuase he was scratching so badly....if I would ask him, I am sure he wouldn't say they were cute... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I couldn't understand why anyone was excited about seeing sand fleas. Some people may call those little critters "fleas" but we always called them sand crabs. What we call sand fleas are just as annoying as the fleas that get on our cats and dog, and yes, they bite, jump, get in your food, etc. In fact, I don't know if they are any different -- they just hang out at the beach rather than on our pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 What you are calling sand fleas I would call sand crabs or donax. They are cute and we would always catch them and make little ponds for them and let them burrow in our hands. What I would call sand fleas are just fleas or small flies that live at the beach and might bite. Two different creatures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 They are "Sand Crabs," not "Sand Fleas." They don't jump, fly, or bite. Bill What you are calling sand fleas I would call sand crabs or donax. They are cute and we would always catch them and make little ponds for them and let them burrow in our hands. What I would call sand fleas are just fleas or small flies that live at the beach and might bite. Two different creatures! Ahhh, okay. Yes, the ones I found looked like the picture the OP posted, and they definitely seemed more similar to crabs than fleas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Oh, we've always called them "mole crabs". They are very easy to find in the surf and my children always love watching them bury themselves in the sand. I've never heard of these being called "sand fleas". I thought those were something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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